Crib frame with lifting device

ABSTRACT

A crib frame includes a lower chassis, an upper chassis, a connecting chassis that connects the lower chassis and upper chassis, and a driving mechanism. The connecting chassis includes a first supporting chassis and a second supporting chassis. The driving mechanism includes an electric motor and an actuator. The first supporting chassis and the second supporting chassis are connected in an “X” shape. One end of the actuator is connected to the first supporting chassis and the other end is connected to the bottom chassis and arranged to control the height of the upper chassis relative to the lower chassis.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

Priority is claimed based on U.S. Provisional Application No.61/460,579, filed Jan. 5, 2011.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates generally to a lifting device for a bed framebottom and particularly to a baby crib chassis.

Most baby/toddler beds provide the capability of adjusting the height ofthe mattress to provide convenience in positioning the baby in bed orremoving the baby from the bed. After the baby is placed in the crib,the mattress is lowered to prevent the baby from climbing out or rollingout of the crib. A rectangular frame typically supports the mattresssuch that raising or lowering the frame adjusts the mattress height. Toadjust the height of the baby/toddler bed, usually, people use aheight-adjusting device in the bed. Existing lifting devices mostly usehydraulic or mechanical systems. This kind of hydraulic device is notonly difficult to operate but also large in size and inconvenient tocarry or transport.

The purpose of this invention is to provide a baby crib frame having achassis that solves the problems of the existing hydraulic andmechanical devices for adjusting the height of a baby crib.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The crib frame includes a lower chassis, an upper chassis, a connectingchassis that connects the lower chassis and upper chassis, and a drivingmechanism. The connecting chassis includes a first supporting chassisand a second supporting chassis. The driving mechanism includes anelectric motor and an actuator. The first supporting chassis and thesecond supporting chassis are connected in an “X” shape. One end of theactuator is connected to the first supporting chassis and the other endis connected to the bottom chassis and arranged to control the height ofthe upper chassis relative to the lower chassis.

One advantage of this invention is its ease of operation. The inventionuses an actuator controlled via a foot pedal switch to easily adjust thecrib height. A second advantage is the use of a cross hinge structure,that when folded, it is small in size, and easy to carry or transport. Athird advantage is that it uses a lithium battery that eliminates theneed to use a cable to provide electrical power to the actuator.Therefore, the invention is safe, attractive and suitable for outdoorusage.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a front elevation view of a crib frame that includes aliftable chassis according to the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing the liftable chassis in an upperposition;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing the bottom side of crib frame andliftable chassis; and

FIG. 4 illustrates an electrical system that may be included in thepresent invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

As illustrated in the FIGS. 1-3, a crib frame 10 according to thepresent invention 10 includes a bottom chassis 12, an upper chassis 14,an electric motor 16 and a connecting chassis 18 that connects the upperchassis 14 and the bottom chassis 12.

In normal usage a plurality of parallel slats (not shown) extends acrossthe top of the top chassis to support a mattress (not shown). Theseslats are not shown FIGS. 2 and 3 so that the height-adjusting featuresof the invention can be illustrated.

The connecting chassis 18 includes a first support frame 20 and a secondsupport frame 22. The first support frame 20 includes a first pair ofparallel support members 24 and 26, each of which have lower ends 28that are pivotally connected to the bottom chassis by brackets 30 and32. The first support frame 20 also includes upper ends 33 thatterminate in rollers 34 and 36. The rollers 34 and 36 are arranged tofit with correspond tracks 38 and 40 that are mounted on opposite sidesof the upper chassis 14. The second support frame 22 includes a secondpair of parallel support members 42 and 44 having lower ends 47 thatterminate in rollers 46 and 48 and upper ends 49 that are pivotallyconnected to the upper chassis by brackets 50 and 52, respectively. Therollers 46 and 48 are arranged to fit within corresponding tracks 51 and53 that are mounted to the lower chassis 12.

The support members 24 and 42 are pivotally connected by a pin 54located at the place where the support members 24 and 46 cross oneanother. The support members 26 and 44 also are pivotally connected by apin 56. Referring to FIG. 2, the support members 24 and 42 form a first“X” shaped support frame, and the support members 26 and 44 form asecond “X” shaped support frame.

A first crossbar 60 extends between the lower ends 47 of the supportmembers 42 and 44, and a second crossbar 62 extends between centralregions of the support members 24 and 26. An electric motor and actuatorassembly 64 has a first end mounted to a bracket 66 that is affixed tothe first crossbar 60 and a second end mounted to a bracket 68 that isaffixed to the second crossbar 62.

A foot pedal 70 and a battery 72 that is preferably rechargeable aremounted to the lower chassis 12. As shown in FIG. 4, the battery isconnected to a source of electrical power and to the motor and actuatorassembly 64. The foot pedal 70 is connected to the motor and actuatorassembly 64 and is arranged to extend and retract the actuator to raiseand lower the upper chassis 14.

The upper chassis 14 is raised relative to the lower chassis by pressingthe foot pedal to extend the length of the motor and actuator assembly64, which causes the rollers 34 and 36 to roll in the tracks 36 and 38toward right as seen in FIG. 2. At the same time, the rollers 46 and 48roll in the tracks 46 and 47 toward the right. Reversing the directionof motion of the rollers 34, 36, 46 and 48 lowers the upper chassis 14.

1. A baby crib frame, comprising: a bottom chassis; a top chassis; and aconnecting chassis connected between the top chassis and the topchassis, the connecting chassis including: a first support frame havinga first pair of parallel support members having lower ends pivotallyconnected to the bottom chassis and having upper ends that terminate ina first set of rollers that are arranged to roll upon correspondingtracks connected to the top chassis; a second support frame having asecond pair of parallel support members having lower ends pivotallyconnected to the top chassis and having upper ends that terminate in asecond set of rollers that are arranged to roll upon correspondingtracks connected to the bottom chassis; and an electric motor andactuator assembly connected between the first and second support framesto adjust the position of the first and second sets of rollers in thecorresponding tracks to selectively raise or lower the top chassisrelative to the bottom chassis.
 2. The baby crib frame of claim 1including a foot pedal switch for controlling the motor and actuatorassembly.
 3. The baby crib frame of claim 1 wherein a battery provideselectrical power to the electric motor and actuator assembly.